The Bard's songs – just as you like it

Folk festivals traditionally celebrate the music of bygone eras (as well as contemporary tunes), but one band will be taking that to extremes at the 40^th anniversary Illawarra Folk Festival at Bulli Showground on January 15-17.

Musician and musical historian Dr Kathryn Roberts Parker and The Bard Band will take audiences back more than 400 years to Elizabethan England, performing songs from William Shakespeare’s plays in two performances that promise to swing between wild and whimsical.

The Bard Band is Kathryn's musical project that combines her academic historian’s focus on the songs and music that were integral to many of Shakespeare’s plays, her professional career as a teacher of Renaissance Performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and her love of performing songs from those times.

Kathryn, who lives in Woonona, gained her doctorate from the University of Sydney and the Conservatorium, researching the musical culture of traditional festivals in the British Isles and their representation in Shakespeare’s theatre.

Earlier, she had completed a Masters degree at Kings College in London, where she was able to work extensively at the Globe Theatre – the modern recreation of Shakespeare’s theatre where his plays were performed in the late 16^th and early 17^th centuries.

“In Shakespearean times, festivals and music were a big part of people’s lives,” Kathryn said. “There were festivals around May Games, where people would dress like Robin Hood and there would be archery, plays and lots of singing and dancing … there would be sheep-shearing festivals in the spring…

"Shakespeare incorporated this music and festival culture into his plays, particularly his comedies. Sometimes he wrote his own songs, and other times he incorporated traditional songs into his plays.”

Kathryn said the musical practice of the time centred on more than 40 stock tunes that musicians would play regularly, and lyrics were written to fit one of those tunes. “This meant that a lot of different songs were written to the same tune,” she said.

London had a company of musicians called the City Waits, who were employed by the mayor of London to play at a wide variety of events. The Globe Theatre also used these musicians to provide the music for the songs in Shakespeare’s plays, and other musical features like trumpets announcing the arrival on stage of an actor playing a monarch.

Kathryn has drawn on this treasure trove of songs from plays, including As You Like It, for The Bard Band. The band’s EP is called Under The Greenwood Tree, from As You Like It.

You can hear the songs at Kathryn's website and physical copies of the EP will be on sale at the festival.

The Bard Band have played at the National Folk Festival in Canberra and the Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival, and Kathryn is excited to be bringing the show to the Illawarra in January.

She and the musicians involved try to mirror the sound of four centuries ago as much as possible, utilising traditional instruments such as the lute and baroque guitar and contemporary instruments that evolved from earlier instruments.

The Bard Band has two performances at the Illawarra Folk Festival, both designed to encourage audience participation, just as Shakespeare did.

“There is a strong communal aspect to our shows, and we teach the choruses as we go, so we hope everyone joins in,” Kathryn said.

“On the Saturday, our show will be dance-themed. We will be joined by Aimee Brown from the Sydney Baroque Ballet, who will be demonstrating some traditional dances and calling out the steps for the audience to join in,” Kathryn said. “Our Sunday morning show will be more about the songs, with a touch of whimsey.”

The Bard Band is Kathryn Roberts Parker (vocals, cittern, fiddle, harmonium, whistle, percussion); George Teasdell (vocals, mandolin); Shalani Thomas (vocals, acoustic guitar); Harrison Werlemann-Godfrey (vocals, cello); Dan Morris (vocals, lute); George Wills (baroque guitar, percussion); and Nyssa Milligan (vocals, harmonium).

Dr Kathryn Roberts Parker and Shalani Thomas will also teach the Youth Traditions sessions at the Folk School, to be held in conjunction with the festival, at Bulli Uniting Church. 

The full line-up of about 90 acts, details of the folk school and tickets for the 40^th anniversary Illawarra Folk Festival are available at www.illawarrafolkfestival.com.au